District News

Empty Bowls project continues to help battle hunger

 

Dec. 15, 2011

 

For the sixth year in a row, the members of Kathy Van Loan’s art class at Canajoharie High School are using their talents to create colorful ceramic bowls for the Empty Bowls campaign. The campaign aims to fight local hunger and raise awareness about world hunger.

Her students are throwing and painting the bowls and when they are finished, the bowls will be part of the Sixth Annual "Empty Bowls" Luncheon on March 3 at the Vet’s Club in Cooperstown.

“This is a wonderful program and the students really do a great job at creating some beautiful bowls. They put their personality into them and it shows,” said Mrs. Van Loan. “Every year, the students take the project very seriously because they know it’s for a good cause.”

Empty Bowls organizers served more than 300 people during the luncheon last year on the way to raising more than $6,000 for a local food pantry. Over the last five years, the event has raised more than $23,000.

For a $15 donation at the event, attendees can select a bowl from which to eat. The cooks then serve soup (in the bowls) and bread. For some students, however, the bowls have become a labor of love; so rather than giving up their bowls, they can donate $15 to keep it.

In November, Canajoharie potter MaryAnn Nellis created the bowls for the students to decorate. She also volunteered her time to come to school to work with the students.

The project combines elements of pottery making, painting and drawing and gives students a chance to personalize their work. The art students used a range of designs on their bowls from Chinese symbols to sports logos.

Dante Binotto created a Syracuse Orange-inspired bowl replete with a logo and likeness of the school mascot. "I really wanted this to look good, so I took my time," he said. "It's worth it."

Kassie Rodriguez inscribed the Chinese symbols for "Earth," "water," "wind," and "fire" on her bowl. "You know it's a good cause when people are going to eat out of it and the money is going toward fighting hunger," she said.

Empty Bowls luncheons began in 1990 when a Detroit art teacher looked for a way to raise money for his school's food drive. His ceramics students threw and decorated 120 bowls, one for each staff member in the school. After serving everyone a luncheon of bread and soup, the teacher's wife shared some facts about local hunger.

She then invited everyone to keep their bowls as a reminder of the empty bowls around the world. The idea quickly caught on and Empty Bowls events are now held all over the world.